Credit: Ievgenii Karanov, Chronicle.lu
Luxembourg's Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception has announced that the 2026/2027 edition of the winter emergency shelter initiative Wanteraktioun (Action Hiver) will open on Saturday 14 November 2026, one day earlier than originally scheduled.
On Tuesday 10 November 2026, Minister of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception Max Hahn presented the arrangements for the upcoming season during a press briefing and guided media representatives on a tour of the Wanteraktioun facilities at Findel.
The initiative is operated by Dräieck asbl, which brings together the Luxembourg Red Cross, Hëllef um Terrain (HUT) and Inter-Actions. The ministry and Dräieck asbl decided to bring forward the opening by one day, while the emergency shelter will remain operational until Thursday 15 April 2027.
Wanteraktioun provides people experiencing homelessness with heated overnight accommodation, hot meals, showers, hygiene facilities, medical assistance and social support during the colder months. The initiative has been operating since 2001, while the current facility at Findel has been in use since 2019.
During the visit, Minister Hahn explained that approximately 2,200 people used Wanteraktioun's services during the previous season, including around 100 who attended almost every day. Women account for less than 10% of beneficiaries and have separate, smaller sleeping areas. The facility normally offers 272 beds across several dormitories, with capacity increasing to 300 during periods of high demand by converting the dining area into additional sleeping accommodation.
The minister also addressed the eligibility criteria introduced two years ago. Under the rules, people generally need to demonstrate that they have been receiving support from a Luxembourg social service for at least three months to access the shelter for an extended period. Minister Hahn explained that the restrictions followed periods when demand exceeded available capacity and had helped stabilise the number of beneficiaries. However, he stressed that during nights when temperatures fall below freezing, the shelter remains accessible to everyone seeking emergency accommodation, regardless of the usual criteria.
The shelter operates on a daily schedule, with registration available from 11:30 to 16:00 and a hot lunch served around midday. Overnight accommodation is available from 19:00 until the following morning, when residents leave the building to allow staff to clean the facilities and carry out maintenance. Breakfast and an evening meal are also provided, while a dedicated bus service connects the shelter with Luxembourg City's central railway station.
Medical professionals from the partner organisations are available on weekdays, with doctors and nurses providing consultations and assistance to those who need them.
"The mission from the winter action, it's that no one dies outside in the winter, during the winter," Catia Gomes, responsible for on-site coordination, told Chronicle.lu during the visit. She explained that the facility primarily accommodates individuals rather than families, although families arriving without somewhere to stay can be admitted temporarily while alternative accommodation is arranged.
Catia Gomes, who has worked with Wanteraktioun for ten years, also noted that demand varies considerably from season to season. She said: "Each season it's a new one. So each season we can never know and never say, oh, it's going to be a lot of people or not." She explained that the number of people seeking accommodation depends partly on weather conditions and recalled previous seasons when the facility had reached full capacity.
The organisers are also seeking volunteers for the 2026/2027 season. Opportunities include helping with meal preparation and distribution, providing hygiene supplies, supporting educational and recreational activities, and organising workshops in areas such as cooking, music, crafts and sport.
